Friday, November 11, 2011

{This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations, TonyaHopkins and Denise S!}

My husband and I made the big decision recently to have our kitchen remodeled. It's going to take some time and it's going to take some money and it is most likely going to cause quite a few headaches, but in the end I know it is going to be worth it.

After all, just think of the amount of time spent in the kitchen and what a difference it would make to have one that is well-designed, conveniently laid out, and allows you the most positive experience possible. Who doesn't want that?

With those qualities in mind, why should adults be the only ones who benefit from a great cooking space? Instead of a smaller, lower quality place for kids to play and imagine, maybe it's time to remodel... into something incredible and amazing like the Guidecraft All In One Modern Kitchen.

Now that's a kitchen remodel.

Known and recognized as the name in everything from wooden toys to dramatic play, Guidecraft knows exactly what it takes to make up a kitchen that is going to inspire creativity, encourage learning, and last for generations to come. As the sleek new addition to their line up of kitchens, the All In One Modern Kitchen compiles nearly everything that a child could dream up all in a contemporary, state-of-the-art look.

Arriving in two long, heavy boxes (weighing in at nearly 100 lbs)...

...this kitchen does take quite a bit of assembly simply considering all of the intricate parts and pieces that it includes. Fortunately, Guidecraft makes things incredibly easy by having every item well-labeled and including concise, easy-to-follow instructions.

Although I was able to complete most of the assembly process on my own with just my screwdriver, it did take an extra set of hands for a few portions - namely when it came time to lift the upper half of the construction onto the lower half. All in all, it did take a few hours, but, without a doubt, the result was worth waiting for.

My young chefs were only slightly excited to put their cooking skills to work immediately.

But how could they not be? There are so many amazing features included in the All In One Modern Kitchen and each one shows that Guidecraft left no detail unnoticed. Instead of stickers or painted-on parts, there are knobs that really turn, doors that open and close, and an all-over clean look that just screams Come play with me!

Each appliance (microwave, stove, dishwasher and fridge) has its own door that is held in place by magnets when closed and right away both Big Sister E and Little Sister B liked the act of opening and shutting them to put items inside. The addition of the slide-out rack in the oven and the great movable knobs make each location throughout the kitchen that much more entertaining and realistic.

Heck, there is even a write-on message board on the refrigerator. From scribbles to tic tac toe to doodles and drawings, the kids have been pretty excited about this unique addition. Grocery list, anyone?

The All In One Modern Kitchen also includes various other amenities that give it an edge up on other play kitchens such as storage cabinets and a cordless phone. And what chef could be without a proper prep area?

From the large counter space for cooking to the excess space to hold food, dishes or cooking supplies throughout, there's just not much more that a child could ask for to have endless afternoons dreaming up meals and restaurants and more. All that's left to do is pick up the phone and call a friend to come join them!

From the chic silver backsplash to the beautiful cherry wood to the realistic burners on the stovetop, everything from the looks to the quality and functionality of this kitchen are top-notch. All but a few pieces are wood and with everything being so interactive, there is no way for kids to lose interest. Plus, with the longer length of the All In One (50"W x 16"D x 40"H) there is plenty of room for multiple children to play and not be crowded.

It goes without saying that this kitchen is pretty amazing. (Wait. How come my kids have stainless steel appliances and I don't?) Retailing for $280, it is more of an investment piece than "just another toy" but the amount of time playing, pretending and learning about the way the world works is going to be so much more valuable.

Plus, as with all of Guidecraft's educational toys, arts & crafts and furniture, the level of craftsmanship and quality means that the All In One Modern Kitchen will last for years to come - and could even be passed down to the next generation. The joy, creativity and laughter is exactly what Guidecraft stands for: smart, well-crafted products which allow children's minds and imaginations room to truly wonder and grow.

With everything from developmental toys to building blocks that encourage open-ended educational play, the Guidecraft name is simultaneous with only the very best! And, thanks to their extreme generosity, two people will get to experience that for themselves in a big way this holiday season, because...

One lucky person will win an All In One Modern Kitchen and one lucky person will win a $500 Guidecraft gift certificate!!

To enter to win: Visit Guidecraft and tell me one of the amazing toys that you think the child(ren) in your life would love to own.

Extra Entries (available after the mandatory entry above is completed; please leave a separate comment for each entry in order for them to be counted).

2 Extra Entries (per method) if you follow Guidecraft on Twitter and/or Like them on Facebook.1 Extra Entry (per giveaway entered) - Enter any (or all) of the giveaways running on Thanks, Mail Carrier for the duration of this giveaway.1 Extra Entry if you follow me on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway by copying and pasting the tweet below and leaving me the link. Tweet daily for an extra entry every day!

Guidecraft Holiday Spectacular! WIN a $500 GC or an All In One Modern Kitchen ($280)! http://bit.ly/tSlTNc @thxmailcarrier #giveaway #win

1 Extra Entry (per follow method) if you follow me with Google Friend Connect, subscribe to my RSS feed, subscribe to Thanks, Mail Carrier by email, become a fan on Facebook or add Thanks, Mail Carrier to your blogroll.2 Extra Entries if you put my cute button up on your blog. Please leave an address where it can be found.3 Extra Entries if you blog about this giveaway linking back to this post. Please leave an address where it can be found.Giveaway will end on December 2nd at 11:59pm CST. By entering this sweepstakes, you are agreeing to these official rules. No purchase necessary, void where prohibited by law. Do me the favor of leaving an email address or making absolutely sure it is visible in your profile, I have to have a way to contact the winner. The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to contact me or respond to notification or a new winner will be chosen. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and must be 18 years of age or older.

A big thank you to Guidecraft for providing an All In One Modern Kitchen for me to review as well as an All In One Modern Kitchen for one lucky giveaway winner and a $500 gift certificate for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.